SeaBASS

A validation update

Recently released AERONET-OC data (Version 2, level 2.0) were processed for SeaBASS validation. These data were also used to create SeaBASS's first VIIRS-JPSS1 validation results.

Metadata Header Updates

Several new metadata headers have been created to make it easier to interpret useful information without users needing to manually parse external documents. These new headers are optional but recommended from now on:

• instrument_model (e.g., PRR-800)
• instrument_manufacturer (e.g., Biospherical_Instruments_Inc.)
• calibration_date (e.g., 20190230)

New Fields

New field names are added SeaBASS over time to meet the needs of evolving science and new types of submissions. New fields are not usually announced, but special attention is called to the recently added variations of commonly submitted measurements. These variants were added to keep distinct measurements or derivations whose methodology imparts significant differences or caveats compared to other techniques. Effort is made to avoid creating an unnecessary amount of field names in SeaBASS, but that is balanced by also trying to prevent lumping together distinct measurements in a way that cannot be separated easily.

• Chl_stimf [mg/m^3] Chlorophyll a derived from a calibrated in situ fluorometer (see 'stimf' for reporting uncalibrated values)
• Chl_experimental [mg/m^3] Chlorophyll a derived via experiment, or experimental methods. See specific documentation for more information
• Chl_lineheight [mg/m^3] Proxy Chlorophyll concentration derived using particulate absorption line height
• POC_cp [mg/m^3] Proxy POC concentration derived using particulate attenuation